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NATIONAL LANGUAGE ACTS 1963/67 is Malaysia Act, cited as Act 32 1963, currently marked in force and first recorded in 1963.
Opening note
This Act may be cited as the National Language Acts 1963/1967 and shall, subject to subsection (2), apply throughout
Malaysia.
This Act shall come into force in the States of Sabah and
Sarawak on such dates as the respective State Authorities may by enactments of the Legislatures of the respective States appoint and different dates may be appointed for the coming into force of different provisions of this Act in those States.
National language to be used for official purposes
Save as provided in this Act and subject to the safeguards contained in Article 152(1) of the Constitution relating to any other language and the language of any other community in
Malaysia the national language shall be used for official purposes.
Use of translation
Nothing in this Act shall affect the right of the Federal
Government or the Government of any State to use any translation of official documents or communications in any other language for such purposes as may be deemed necessary in the public interest.
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ACT 32
Continued use of English may be permitted
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong may permit the continued use of the English language for such official purposes as may be deemed fit.
Use of English language may be permitted in Parliament and
Legislative Assembly
Rakyat and the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of any State, or other person performing for the time being the functions of any such office, may permit any member of either House of Parliament or of the Legislative Assembly to use the English language in addressing, or otherwise participating in the work of the House or the Legislative Assembly, as the case may be.
Authoritative text of laws
of all Bills to be introduced or amendments thereto to be moved in Parliament or the Legislative Assembly of any State;
of all Acts of Parliament and all subsidiary legislation issued by the Federal Government;
of all Enactments and subsidiary legislation issued by any State Government; and
of all Ordinances promulgated by the Yang di-Pertuan
Agong, shall be in the national language and in the English language, the former being authoritative unless the Yang di-Pertuan Agong otherwise prescribes generally or in respect of any particular law or class of laws.
Written laws enacted prior to 1 September 1967
Where any written law enacted before the first day of
September 1967, has been translated into the national language 032e.fm Page 6 Monday, March 27, 2006 4:49 PM
National Language 7
the Yang di-Pertuan Agong may prescribe the translation of that law to be authoritative.
Nothing in section 6 shall apply to the amendment of any written law enacted before the first day of September 1967, until that written law has been translated into the national language and the translation has been prescribed to be authoritative.
Language of Courts
All proceedings (other than the giving of evidence by a witness) in the Federal Court, Court of Appeal, the High Court or any Subordinate Court shall be in the national language:
Provided that the Court may either of its own motion or on the application of any party to any proceedings and after considering the interests of justice in those proceedings, order that the proceedings (other than the giving of evidence by a witness) shall be partly in the national language and partly in the English language.
Script of national language
The script of the national language shall be the Rumi script:
provided that this shall not prohibit the use of the Malay script, more commonly known as the Jawi script, of the national language.
Form of numerals
The form of numerals in the national language shall be the
Arabic form of numerals.
Forms
English language is prescribed by any written law a translation thereof in the national language by such person or authority as the
Prime Minister may from time to time by order prescribe may be used for all the purposes for which the form may, if in the English language, be used.
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Act 32
LIST OF AMENDMENTS
Amending law
Short title
In force from
Act A554
National Language (Amendment and Extension) Act 1983 13-05-1983
Act A765
National Language (Amendment)
Act 1990 30-03-1990
Act A885
Constitution
(Amendment)
Act 1994 24-06-1994
Act A901
National Language (Amendment)
Act 1994 09-09-1994 032e.fm Page 8 Monday, March 27, 2006 4:49 PM
National Language 9
Act 32
LIST OF SECTIONS AMENDED
Section
Amending authority
In force from 1
Act A554 13-05-1983 5
Act A554 13-05-1983 8
Act A765 30-03-1990
Act A885 24-06-1994
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